Surgical traction means



Nov. 27, 1956 w. H. SCHOLL SURGICAL TRACTION MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet l IZYYETETiDF WJ/ 'm H 640 75%; 5,14 ZJE Filed May 18, 1954 Nov. 27, 1956 w. H. SCHOLL 2,771,376

SURGICAL TRACTION MEANS Filed May 18, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Jzfivanimr my 1 7. mm MJZWA, 2%,; am v 14 Nov. 27, 1956 w. H. SCHOLL 2,771,876

SURGICAL TRACTION MEANS Filed May 18, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invitin l l zy/z am H Jc/w/l United States Patent SURGICAL TRACTION MEANS William H. Scholl, London, England, assignor to The Scholl Mfg. Co., Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application May 18, 1954, Serial No. 430,576

Claims. (Cl. 128-84) This invention relates to improvements in surgical traction means, and more particularly to a gripping or holding assembly for engaging the free end portion of an applied tubular bandage, the invention being highly desirable for use in connection with extension, fixation, suspension, application of traction, and other manners of supporting a limb or appendage of the human body, although the invention will have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

It has been ascertained that adequate traction, for suspension, repair of fractures, exerting tension on deformations and maladjustments of the human body, etc., can be provided with the aid of a properly applied tubular bandage only, excluding the need of ties, adhesive tape, heel pins, and other such apparatus commonly used heretofore. While not essential, it is deemed highly desirable to anchor the free end of the tubular bandage in a gripping assembly so that adjustments might readily be made without injuring the bandage or manipulating it in such a manner as to cause undesired loosening thereof. Difficulty has heretofore been experienced in attaching the actual traction means to the tubular bandage itself, without injuring the bandage, without providing an unsightly arrangement and one diificult of manipulation or removal, and one which may be repeatedly used without the necessity of disconnecting it from the supporting means, if so desired. Obviously, too, traction and suspension means must be connected to a bandage or other means secured to the body of the patient in a manner that does not injure the patient and lessens aggravation of the patients ailment to the minimum degree.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a holding or gripping assembly for engagement with the free end of a tubular bandage, which assembly is positive in action, increases its grip as the pull upon the bandage is increased, and which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a holding or gripping assembly for the free end of a tubular bandage or the like, the assembly comprising a plurality of interfitting members, so arranged that the stronger the pull upon the assembly, the tighter the members engage the element held thereby.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a holding or gripping assembly for the free end of a tubular bandage, which comprises a plurality of hinged elements, readily attachable around the limb or appendage of a patient, rather than be passed over such limb or appendage and risk injury to the patient.

Still a further feature of this invention is the provision of a holding or gripping assembly for a bandage element, which assembly is readily connectable to traction means, and need not be fully disconnected from the traction means in order to remove the assembly and replace it on the same or a different patient.

Still a further object of the instant invention is the provision of a holding or gripping assembly designed to anchor to bandage means or the like and also be connected to traction means, and which assembly is so constructed as to itself exert no compression on the bandaged part of the body, or cause the bandage to exert any compression in the region of engagement with the assembly.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a fragmentary side elevational view, illustrating one use of the instant invention, and showing the invention associated with traction or suspension apparatus and operatively connected with bandage means to support the leg of a patient;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view through the bandage and holding assembly of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the elements of the holding assembly, indicating its pivotal action in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of another of the elements of the holding assembly, indicating in dotted lines the hinge action of this element;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the element of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view of another element of the holding assembly;

Figure 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the structure of Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional and exploded view of the structure seen best in Fig. 2, showing an initial step in the mounting of the gripping assembly;

Figure 9 is a view similar in character to Fig. 8, showing an advance stage in the mounting of the gripping assembly; and

Figure 10 is also a view similar in character to Figs. 8 and 9, this View being in effect a great enlargement of the left-hand portion of Fig. 2, showing the gripping assembly completely associated with the bandage.

As shown on the drawings:

As one example of use or" the instant invention, in Fig. 1 I have illustrated a standard 1 of the character that might be disposed adjacent a hospital bed, which standard is equipped with a suitable cross arm 2 at the top thereof, and adjustable suspension means 33 depend from the cross arm. The suspension means may be associated at the bottom with loops 44 which are directly connected with a gripping assembly embodying principles of the instant invention. This gripping assembly is shown secured to the free end of a tubular bandage 5 secured around the leg 6 of a patient. Such a tubular bandage is disposed about an applicator, preferably in the form of a cage cylinder for passing over the limb of a patient, and the applicator is passed over the limb, an end of the bandage held, the applicator withdrawn, twisted, moved back over the limb to retrovert the bandage, and this procedure is followed until sufficient bandage is applied. In applying the bandage, pressure of the bandage about the limb of the user can be obtained by tension and by rotation as well as a combination of both. Tension alone gives a comfortable firm bandage or dressing with very slight pressure, but a certain amount of rotation of the applicator during the withdrawing movement is used to add to the pressure. With a combination of tension on the bandage during withdrawal of the applicator and rotation of the applicator and bandage, the bandage may be so securely atfixed to the limb of a user, as to need no aid whatever in remaining on the limb, and traction means, including weights where necessary, may be attached di- Patented Nov. 27, 1956 rectly to the free end of the bandage without danger of the bandage slipping off. The initial step of application of the bandage may be in conformity with the teaching in the Hendrickson et.al. Patent No. 2,456,507, issued December 14, 1948, although, as stated above, a cylindrical cage type applicator is preferable for use over anything as 'la'rge'as an arm or leg, and the necessary .a'fiixation of the bandageto the leg may require several retroversions of the 'bandage,together with a combination tension and rotation ot'the *applicatorduring application of the band- 'age.

When the bandage is correctly applied, for traction purposes, a free end of the bandage is left at the outer extremity of the leg, or as seen 'in Fig. l, at the foo't. 'It is not necessary that the bandage 'tully enclose the toes, and it will be noted "from the showing in Fig. 1 that the toes and fore'portion o'f'thetoot are not compressed 'or cramped in any manner by the instant invention.

With reference now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the grippingassembly, in'the illustrated instance, incorporates three ring-like elements. For purposes of convenience, these elements may be termed a locking ring'7, a gripping ring 8, and an anchoring ringi'9.

With'reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that thelocking ring 7 is preferably of the hinge type, and may embody one or more hinges, one being illustrated, as indicated at 1'9. The free ends of the ring are'halved as indicated at 11 to provide in effect a scarf joint when the ends are brought together so as to preserve a constant diameter for the ring. These ends are merely brought together when 'ther'ing is closed, as indicated at 12, and no securing means are necessary, since the bandage itself will retaintheLring properly closed when the assembly is connected to the bandage.

In Figs.-4 and 5 the anchor ringi9 is illustrated, and in the illustrated instance this ring is also disclosed as two half sections hinged together as indicated at 13, each section being equipped with a loop orhandle 14. This ring "9 is preferably somewhat cylindrical, and has the general cross sectional shape of a stretched oval, as seen best in Fig. 2. One of the free ends of the ring is notched or mortised as indicated at 1a to receive therein a tongue 16 extending from the other end of the ring. No other securement is necessary, since when the ring "is in use the force applied thereto Will parallel the axis of the ring, so there is nothing to cause the ring to spread, and the mortise and tenon joint i516, will obviously retain the ring in closed position against a pull.

in Figs. 6 and 7 the gripping ring 8 is illustrated and this ring is preferably formed of resilient material, such as rubber, synthetic rubber, or the equivalent. The ring is split at one point, as seen at 17 in Fig. 6, so that it may be expanded against its inherent tendency to remain in circular shape for application purposes. As seen best in Fig. 7, the gripping ring 8 is provided with an annular groove 18 in its upper face, and a similar annular groove 19 in its lower face.

In connecting the holding assembly to the free end of the -tubular bandage 5, this free end of the bandage isput through the locking ring 7, or the locking ring is opened and'then contracted about the bandage. 'The bandage is then folded around the locking ring to provide an outer retroverted layer '26, which is brought "back immediately adjacent the inside layer 'or free end 5 to enclose the locking ring 7. This arrangement'is best seen in Fig. 8. After the bandage has been engaged around the locking ring "7, the gripping ring is expanded and contracted around the bandage beneath the locking ring 7, and the locking ring 7 is pressed down into the groove 18 of the gripping ring as seen in Fig. 9. The outer layer 20 is then moved to the dotted line position of Fig. '9 underneath the lower groove 19 of the gripping ring 8.

Then the anchor ring -'9 is expanded and contracted about the bandage, and moved upwardly or outwardly until its upper portion seats :in the lower groove 19 of the gripping ring, giving the outer flap 20 of the bandage a reentrant bend into the groove1'9 as shown at '21 in Fig. 10. Thus, with the outer flap 20 of the bandage pressed into the upper groove 18 of the gripping ring around the locking ring 7, extending downwardly over the inside face of the gripping ring, and then being pressed into the under groove 1-9 by the-anchor ring 9, the assembly is firmly locked to the bandage. The projecting portion of the outer 'flap '2'!) may extend over the outer face of the gripping ring :as seen -in Figs. 2 and L0, or-it may be permitted "to fall backward from the gripping 'ring as seen in Fig. 1. Any excess bandage may, of'course, be cut off.

With the holding assembly attached to the free end of the bandage, the loops 4 are secured to the opposed handles 14--14 on the anchor ring 9, if they are not already attached to that ring, and then these loops are connected to the suspension means 33. It will be especially noted that during the 'app'lica'tionc'f the holdingassembly to the Tree end of the bandage, there is no need for any part of theholding assembly, if properly manipulated, coming in contact with the patients foot, and when'the assemblyis attached, and the patients leg is suspended, the 'forepart of the 'foot is free and unimpeded. Obviously,'thebandage may be terminated above the ankle, the holding assembly applied just as easily without directly contacting the patients leg, the traction or tensi'on pu-ll exerted on the holding assembly in a'h'orizontal direction, leaving the patients toot-entirely free and run'impeded. In similar fashion, the holding assembly :may :be attached :10 substantially any type of 'tubular'handage ron substantially any appendage cf the ibody, even a 'fingersitit is essential to have traction upon the finger.

It will further be noted chat the instant invention is simple .in .tconstnuction, :easy ro manipulate, and when derision sis applied to the assembly :the grip :of the :as- .serrrbly upon the bandage rend increases as the tension increases. Fin other words, :the stronger the pull on it'h'e handles d4, the tighter the assembly holds the bandage. The assembly maybe-easily released by relaxing thepull on thehandles 14--14, and in ithatevent the assembly may gprac-tically be removed :from the bandage with tno eliort whatever, except a :slight opening movement of the anchor ring-9. Of course, the various rings could :be made in solid form, *but it .is :preferable for expeditious connections and' to .avoid auygpossible injury to therpatient, tozhave the various rings ihinged-orresilient, as illustrated.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may beefiected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention'as defined by the claims.

I claim -as my invention:

1. A holding assembly :for attachment to a bandage :for tract-ion purposes, including adoolting member, a resilient gripping member, and an anchor member, all saidmemhers having-complemented end faces and being disposable in juxtaposition axially of :the assembly with the bandage interspersed between each pairof adjacent members.

2. .Aholding assembly forattachment to. a bandage for traction purposes, including a loclcing member, -a resilient gripping member, and an anchor member, said gripping member having groovesin-opposed end faces thereof of complemeutal shape .to said locking and anchor members for .interfitting assodiation therewith axially of the assembly with the :bandage following the contours of the grooves between the respective members.

.A holding assembly for attachment to :t-he end *of a tubular bandage for traction purposes, including 'a :set of three rings, the center iringv'having :an annular groove in the innerand :outerendafacesthereof for interfittin'g with the :other rings :to grip "the bandage therebetween, said center ring being of resilient material, and attaching means tor traction means carried by :the ring innermost trons direetion ot pull.

4. A holding assembly for attachment to the end of a tubular bandage for traction purposes, including a set of three rings for juxtaposition with the bandage circumscribing the outer ring, passing over the inner wall of the center ring and between the center ring and inner ring, the center ring being of resilient material and split, and the inner and outer rings being divided and hinged.

5. A holding assembly for attachment to the end of a tubular bandage for traction purposes, including a set of three rings consisting of a relatively rigid outer ring, a resilient center ring, and a relatively rigid inner ring, said center resilient ring having annular grooves in opposed faces thereof, and said inner and outer rings being shaped to interfit in said grooves with the bandage following the contour of both said grooves.

6. A holding assembly for attachment to the end of a tubular bandage for traction purposes, including a split resilient center ring having an annular groove in each end face thereof, a hinged rigid ring to nest in one of said grooves, another hinged rigid ring to nest in the other of said grooves, and traction connecting means on one of said rigid rings.

7. A holding assembly for attachment to the end of a tubular bandage for traction purposes, including a resilient center ring having an annular groove in each end face thereof, and a pair of more rigid rings each shaped to nest in one of said grooves with the end portion of the bandage looped over one of said rigid rings, passing over a side face of the center ring and gripped in the groove between the center ring and the other rigid ring.

8. In combination, a tension member suitable for load sustaining in traction work, and a holding assembly for one end of said member including a resilient center member having a groove in each of a pair of opposed faces thereof, and a pair of more rigid members each shaped to seat in one of said grooves, the end portion of said tension member being reversely folded to embrace one of said rigid members, extend over a side face of the center member and follow the groove contour between the center member and other rigid member.

9. In combination, a tubular bandage for traction purposes, and a holding assembly for an end of said bandage including a set of three rings in juxtaposition with the bandage circumscribing the outer ring, passing over a side face of the center ring and then between the center ring and inner ring, said rings having complementally shaped adjacent end faces for nested engagement axially of the assembly.

10. In combination, a tubular bandage for traction purposes, and a holding assembly for an end of said bandage including a set of three rings in axial nested relationship, said rings having complemental adjacent end faces and at least the center ring being of resilient material, the retroverted end portion of said bandage enclosing the outer ring, extending over the inner face of the center ring and between the center ring and inner ring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 259,862 Irvin June 20, 1882 1,868,269 Beadle July 19, 1932 1,898,104 Thompson Feb. 21, 1933 2,210,183 Schweighart Aug. 6, 1940 2,438,769 Thomas Mar. 30, 1948 2,441,508 Porcell May 11, 1948 2,443,115 Park June 8, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 232,797 Germany Mar. 22, 1911 

